Building Something Better Together

We Want YOU! Join the Postcard Brigade!

When I was in High School, my World Studies teacher was this incredible woman. In her class we did a lot of awesome things, but one thing that stuck with me was that we had to write to politicians and lawmakers about things we cared about.

As an adult, I know that a lot of adults don’t have as much free time as teenage me did. I wrote LONG letters back then. Sometimes, that lack of time can be discouraging. Some people have children, work multiple jobs, or attend university.

Which is why we’ve come up with a way to stay politically active, but still fit it into your busy life:

We’re forming the Postcard Brigade! A postcard doesn’t have a lot of room to write, so it’s no pressure.

-You can be brief and to the point.

-Just put something short and simple on there like

“Affordable Care Act is Essential to My Family!”

“No Mass Deportations!”

“No Muslim Registries!” or even several of those as bullet-points.

-You can also express an opinion to the President-Elect’s Transition Team about Presidential Appointments. For example, The Attorney General Appointment, Jeff Sessions, was denied an appointment by the Reagan administration for being too racist. The Department of Education Appointment, Betsy DeVos, has no background in education, is opposed to public education, and is in favor of privatization, which is especially alarming since Trump himself just settled a lawsuit over a private fraudulent University. Check out his Cabinet Appointments and even just send postcards to the effect of

“NO JEFF SESSIONS”
“NO DeVos!”
-We also have the Earth to think about with the Paris Climate Accord that we should probably stay with, and Trump has said he will not allow NASA to continue to monitor climate change data, so something like

“Stay with Paris Climate Accord!” or

“Allow Climate Change research by NASA!”

Since postcards don’t have return addresses on them, you may want to write yours tiny at the bottom, or even on the front. Staffers like to be able to categorize where the constituency is, and it just assures that your message will be heard.

Since this is an activity that doesn’t take a lot of time, you could even do it on your break at work, on your commute if you use public transportation, or get together with friends or family once a week and do it together with snacks and music! Also, this would be a great way to start to get kids involved. For example, you could explain that Ms. DeVos is a person who doesn’t know much about being a teacher, and she doesn’t believe in public schools where everyone can go, but she thinks there should be ones people pay for, and ones for people who go to church. It would be a good opportunity to let kids let their own voices be heard. Is that fair? What about people who don’t have a lot of money but also don’t go to church? Would Ms. DeVos let them go to school? Get the kids thinking and maybe let them write their own postcards!

If you’re a teacher, a great activity may even be to have them draw their own postcards and then send them, or even to participate in this project. Even though kids can’t vote, it’s important to let them know that they are people, and they are valuable. It’s important to teach them what is going on, because this is the place they live and these are they values they will learn.

Postcard Brigade hopes that it’s members will send postcards as frequently as they are able. Weekly, Twice a Month, Monthly. We also hope you get your friends, family, neighbors, and perfect strangers involved 🙂 Remember, Postcard Brigade isn’t just about one issue. It’s about making our voices heard to our elected leadership!